Three recent letters spoke of Bible influenced religious traditions. I agree that belief neither makes something true nor false; it is an opinion accepted without need of full evidence. We all would like our beliefs to be true. A belief should not be so fragile as to crumble under careful scrutiny. It should be able to withstand rigorous questioning, take into account the sources of information, history, political influences, ulterior motives, human foibles, and not be dominated by tradition, fear, wishful thinking or gut feeling. It is scary to think of a world where it is some kind of sin to doubt or ask questions.
Thanks to our country’s forefathers who knew well the centuries of religious bickering, bloodshed, and coercion so they planned to prevent our government’s power structure from interfering with personal religious preferences. As Charles and Loretta Flickinger remind us, in our country we do have the freedom to “choose what we believe.” Let it always be so.
About those atheists: Carson Haring claims that atheists hate God. Not so, for how does one love or hate the nonexistent? Nor do atheists “create a god” as Garry Gamble suggests. There is no need for it. As for me, it is a satisfying and amazing life to be free from dogma. And of course, I love to share this joy in life.
Lou Jenson
Grand Marais
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